Five candidates have been the focus of discussions regarding the next U.S. senator from California: state Attorney General Kamala Harris, U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, former state Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Baccaro, former state Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim and former businessman Ron Unz.

The ballot for the primary election lists 34 candidates for the Senate seat that will be vacated by Barbara Boxer.

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Only the top five have been invited to participate in debates, so 16 of the other candidates met in Monterey on Sunday for their own debate.

The candidates included Libertarian and Green Party candidates, as well as lesser-known Democrat and Republican candidates. They ranged from teachers to small business owners who want a shot at politics.

"What we have right now is a concern with 34 candidates on the ballot that most Californians do not know, with maybe the exception of one or two names, and they really have additional choices," said Karen Roseberry, an educator from Antelope Valley and a Republican candidate for senator.

Mark Herd is a Libertarian candidate from Santa Monica. He said the political climate created by the presidential election could help third-party candidates like himself.

"I think at least a third of Americans right now are just saying, 'I really don't want to vote for either one of these candidates,' and (the) Libertarian (Party) being the third-largest and fastest growing and being half Democrat and half Republican, I think finally we are taking advantage of it," Herd said.

In 2010, the primary system changed to allow the two candidates for Senate with the most votes in the primary to move on to the general election, regardless of party.

Democratic candidate Emory Rodgers is hoping he can woo enough undecided voters to make it past the primary.

"I think yesterday 48 percent are still undecided in the state of California so it's an open race. The two top people move on and I hope that that is not about a personality contest as much as it is about issues and policies," Rodgers said.

The issues discussed at the Monterey debate included economics, higher education and national security.